Saya appears to be a normal, clumsy schoolgirl and shrine maiden in a small town. But unbeknownst to anyone but her father, the priest, she’s really a vicious warrior who fights Elder Bairns—monsters that can only be destroyed by Saya’s sacred blade.

After a visit to Café Guimauve, Saya finds a dog with strange markings on the side of the road. Meanwhile, her father has been digging through the shrine archives searching for more information on the Elder Bairns.

The baker has gone missing under mysterious circumstances, leaving everyone a little on edge. Saya has bigger problems to deal with, though—namely a shape-shifting Elder Bairn with a cryptic message for the young shrine maiden.

Saya manages to have a quiet moment alone with Tokizane despite his cold demeanor. Her happiness is brief, however, as an attack from three Elder Bairns results in the deaths of several townspeople and more unanswered questions.

When gym class is canceled due to bad weather, the students take turns telling ghost stories. To Saya’s surprise, the story her teacher tells may hold a secret to her past and the mysterious covenant between humans and Elder Bairns.

An Elder Bairn attacks the shrine and kills one of Saya’s friends. School is canceled out of fear for the students’ safety. So why is Nono wandering the streets? And why does her shadow seem to have a life of its own?